Residents concerned that Long Grove Road has become a short cut for commuters and trucks have asked the Village Board to reconsider their request to close the road to through-traffic.
“It has too many cars going too fast down a lane that is too narrow,” said John Hall, who lives off the road. “With approximately 4,800 cars daily using the road, it’s a lot of traffic down this little country lane.”
Residents have expressed concerns that many drivers ignore a stop sign and exceed the 30-m.p.h. speed limit. They asked for the restriction, but last month, former Trustee Timothy Burns presented a study that did not support closing the road to through-traffic.
Burns maintained that only five homes are affected by direct access to the road, and that School District 96 and other residents oppose the closing.
Hall countered these points and this week presented trustees with a petition signed by 45 of 50 neighbors along the road who support the restriction. Hall said that 50 homes have driveway access to the road, and that the restriction would not hamper the school district or safety vehicles. He added that the parents of several small children living along the road fear for their safety.
In light of renewed public interest, the Village Board agreed to re-evaluate restricting the road or developing alternatives.
Trustee Ed Hoak said he would support limiting the road “to force all of the major traffic onto major arterial roads.”
